San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-08-18
Land.Stealing In New Mexico.

July, by Hon. Geo. w. Julian, Sur
veyor General of that Territory, is
attracting great deal of interest
and comment. New Mexico is in so
near proximity to Texas, as to be OF
more than ordinary interest to pros
pective settlers and others, while the
frightful example which she offords
Of the ravages of land monopoly and
fraud comes home to greater or
less degree to many other sections
Of our country; so that we feel sure
our readers will be gratified to learn
of the "true inwardness
Of these matters as given in the ar
ticle. The entire article is too long
for our columns, but we propose
giving the beginning and concluding
parts, with such an outline OF the
body of it us will give some idea of
it's remarkable revelations 1t COM
mences us follows:
In letter from President Cleve-
land, dated May II, 1885, he asked
me if l would accept the Office OF
Governor or Surveyor General OF
New Mexico, and cooperate with him
in breaking up the .''rings' of that
Territory, stating that he considered
the latter position the more import
ant of the two. The question was
complete surprise to me, and my
inclination was to return "
prompt answer in the negative. In
view of advancing years and falling
health, had no desire to venture SO
far out on the frontier, and engage
inn vexatious struggle with the or
gahized roguery that Ind SO long
afflicted New Mexico. On confering
with intelligent friends ON the sub
ject, however, my impressions were
modified, and, after listening to their
stories about the climate OF Santa
Fe and iululging in dreams OF re-
stored health, finally answered the
President in the affirm ative. My
appointment as Surveyor General WAS
made soon thereafter, and | entered
lpon the duties Of the office on the
22d of July.
All that had heard about the eli
nate was true, but the half had not
been told me concerning the ravages
IF land,stealing. In dealing with
ibis subject 1 shall conhne myself IN
,he present article to the single topic
Of Spanish and Mexican land grants.
We find a summary of the next
our or five pages of the article In a.
ate editorial article in the Dallas
News, under the caption, "How the
Public Domain was Stolen" which
or convenience sake we adopt and
copy below;
In the Jaly number Of the North
American Review Hon. George W.
Julian, Surveyor-General OF New
Mexico, gives in detail the result OF
/ part of his Investigations into the
and frauds perpetrated in that Ter
'itory while the Republican party
vas in power They show that un-
ler cover of partly valid and wholly
Invalid Spanish and Mexican grants,
md sometimes without any grant at
III. the United States, through the
.ollusion uf various officials, acting
n the interest of land spectators,
lave been defrauded of 100000 of
lcres. By the treaty of Guadalupe .
md the. laws of nations the United
States was bound to respect the title
If all grants that were found valid
lnder the laws of Spain and Mexico.
IIr. Julian points ont that the power
given by this government to the sur
,eyor-general was so great as to be
inal and absolute, subject only to the
Ultimate supervision of nis rewards
,y congress. But congress, when it
.cted at all, acted in Ignorance by
as true the reports of the
who speedily be
,ame the tool of spectators that had
Fought these grants at low rates
rom the original holders and their
Once in possession the
ipeculators sought through the dep
lty surveyor and other Cnited States
,ificials to extend the area OF these
rants through extravagint and
surveys. Here are a few
Examples Of what was done: The
Pedernales grant. although no proof
,f any grant was shown nor delivery
II possession shown, was based upon
m unanthenbcatedp paper describing
|. tract Of 2j6.O00 Ocres. aud although
he land asked for by iSe grantee was
slip a mile in length, the surveyor
yeneral approved of The entire tract
u 2J6.O0O acres. Il las since been
,eserved by congress from actual
settlement The Canall grant was
or "A spot of land 10 plant a eIrn
ield.- but tie c,ai-nlnts 6 "a a sketch
naD reprassnting 240.GJJ seres.
Tlis land b. raservel from settlemeht
lie Cluvon nc Gamma tract t.
80 SO UrnH